Collapsible bath and dressing table



Sept. 6, 1949. l. LONSTEEN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE BATH AND DRESSING TABLE Filed Aug. 14, 1946 J ZINVEN 0R5 ATmRNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BATH AND DRESSING TABLE Irving Lonstein and Jack Glick, New York, N. Y. Application August 14, 1946, Serial No. 690,584

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to collapsible bath and dressing table devices used for infants.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described comprising a bath stand and a dressing table with improved means whereby the dressing table is movable to a horizontal operative position over the bath and to a rear depending position when the device is collapsed.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the nature set forth including improved means comprising a bracket carrying pockets for miscellaneous articles above the dressing table and releasably cooperating with the latter to support the dressing table in upraised position to expose the bath.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of the type mentioned wherein. the rear pocket carrying bracket adapted to support the dressing table upright is releasably'locked in such manner as to be adapted to be downwardly swung with the dressing table to a depending vertical position.

Another object of'the invention is the provision of a device of the class alluded to comprising a dressing table having improved means for mounting a supporting sheet of textile material or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having a dressing table that is of part wood and part metal construction to furnish portions of superior strength for pivotal "mounting thereof on the stand, the metallic portions being of channel form to facilitate a clip-like engagement of the textile sheet thereto, and the wooden section being reenforcingly secured in certain of the channels and facilitating a final securement of the textile sheet in fully taut condition.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the nature referred to including a tray disposed beneath the bath or tub, with improved means swingably mounting the tray for movement between horizontal operative position and vertical position when the deviceis collapsed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention comprises the novel features, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in e s mmed v ms. ndzill i at in th an.- n x adraw na wherein like narts-arad siene ed by the same reference characters throughout the several views. i

In the drawing: 1

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation showing a device embodying an invention in fully open position, with the dressing table shown in dotdash lines in its horizontal operative position.

Fig. 2 is a, view in front elevation thereof showing in dot-dash lines a resilient deformation of a pocket carrying'bracket for releasing the dressing table to permit the-same to swing downwardly and rearwardly in collapsing the device to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a view. in end elevation showing the device fully collapsed.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary enlarged sectional views taken respectively on the broken line 4- 1, and on the straight line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views showing different detail, features of the construction.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing enlarged details of a novel preferred means for mounting flexible sheet member such as the tub. l 1

Fig. 9 isa section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of the features and instrumentalities are combined, but useful embodiments may be produced involving less than the whole;

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing a preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l0 denotes a collapsible stand, bath tub and dressing table device embodying the invention. The same includes a stand ll comprising a pair of front legs 12 and a pair of rear legs I3, these legs being pivotally interconnected at M by any suitable pins and spacer means so as to provide an ample clearance areafor a. purpose hereinafter described. The front and rear legs are interconnected adjacent to their lower ends by horizontal bars [5. Thus there is provided a conventional type of cross-legged stand. The upper ends of the legs terminate in a horizontal plane in which lies the mouth of a collapsible tub l6 made of rubber, rubberized fabric or other suitable waterproof material. This tub is of conventional construction-and is; mounted onthe stand in any Wel -k own -.;.ma n.er a A. nrete tedra ieon r o inrolreamakiue; time ess; l2 and: it oinl anne iron, the channels at one end of the stand facing those of the other end and receiving horizontal wooden bars I! and I8 suitably secured therein with aid of screws or the like, these bars respectively interconnecting the front and rear legs. To these Wooden bars I! and I8, the longitudinal front and rear edge portions of the bathtub are suitably affixed as by nails or other feasible securing devices, the latter also securing in place a depending longitudinal pocket structure 19 at the front of the stand for conveniently housing various articles, used in the care of a baby. A towel bar 20 of generally U-shaped form extends along the front of the stand its relatively short arms 2| formed with hook portions .22 slipped into holes in the front "legs 12 to afiord a pivotal mounting.

Beneath the tub I6 is a relatively shallow tray 23 which may be made of sheet metal or the like. Thi tray is pivotally mounted at 24 and its ends on the front legs 12, with any suitable clearance that may be required to permit it to swing freely between the horizontal operative position shown in Figure 1 and the upright inoperative position shown .in Fig. 3. The pivots 24 are spaced above the leg stand pivots 1 so :as to bring the tray frontward; for this purpose the pivots 24 are also located nearer the rear edge -'of the tray. Flexible elements or chains 25 :are provided at opposite ends of thetray in advance of the pivots 24 for connecting the tray to points fin the front legs above the tray. While the tray lies between the inner legs, the chains are preferably disposed at the outside faces thereof, and the clearance space between each pair of pivoted legs affords room for the movement or the chains in swinging the tray to the upright position of Fig. 3. By reason of this arrangement eachof the chains 2'5 extends partly aroundor embraces its leg to thus limit or stop the movement of the tray when the same is swung clockwise. Howeven'the chain is so coordinated inlength with the adjoining parts that it permits the tray swing past dead center position so that the tray will not accidentally drop downward when the device 10 is fully collapsed as shown in Fig. 3. Thus'it is seen that the tray can be maintained in inoperative position without requiring any auxiliary fastening devices, the chain 25 and pivot 21 cooperatively providing a swinging mounting determining both the operative and inoperative positions of the tray.

On the rear legs 13 at the hpper ends thereof are provided bracket plates 26which are stationary and rigid with relation to these legs, as by being riveted or spot welcled thereto. These plates extend substantially above the plane defined by the upper ends of "the stand, and also extend substantially rearward of the 'upper ends of the rear legs. The plates 26 afford a swinging mounting for the dressing table 21 which is pivoted thereto by pins "28 as 'further shown in Fig. *7. Because these pins are above 'the plane of the top of the stand, the dressing table may be readilyswung forwardly and downwardly to the dot-dash line position shown in Figure 1 in which the dressing table rests directly on the stand ll. Since the pins 28 are located rearward of the rear legs 13, the dressing table 21 is swingable downwardly and rearwardly to the 1 collapsed position of the device 10 without obstruction by the stand. By -bringing the pins 28 rearward of the rear legs there is the further advantage that 'a dressing table of ample width from back to front is provided Without necessity V for increasing the size of the stand, and consequently the size of the bathtub l6. With the present arrangement, the front of the dressing table may have its rigid bar resting directly on the front legs I2 or on the front bar I! of the stand.

The dressing table 21 includes a frame having a rear bar 29 and end bars 30 made of channel iron and a front bar 3i made of wood or other suitable material. The end bars 30 may be slightly wider than the rear bar 29 to receive the latter as shown in Fig. '7, and the engagement is secured by welding. The front bar 3| has its ends received in the bars 30 as shown in Fig. 6 and is secured to the bars 30 as by screws 32. Triangular metallic plates 33 are welded to the bars 30 to underlie the front bar 3| for additional securement of the latter. Another function of the plates 33 is to afford a seat for the dressing table, the seat being of extended area so as to be adapted to rest on the front legs of the stand. This arrangement is desirable because the length :of the dressing table is substantially greater than the length of the stand at'the front legs, and consequently the front legs would tend to enter between the bars 30 and impinge directly on the cloth covering of the dressing table, which is of course unable to stand the strain. With the degree of compactness produced by this device, the front bar 3| tends to seat only at the extreme front edge of the bar I! of the stand, and such seat is insufficient and may tend to cause the front legs l2 to move inward toward collapsing position.

The dressing table 21 comprises a cover or support 35 of a heavy canvas or duck adapted to support the baby after its bath. This member '35 is provided along-cits rear and end edges with metallic clips 36 secured thereto by eyelets or rivets 3'! and adapted to receive the lower flanges of the channels 29 and 3B. The arrangement is such that a highly taut condition of the member 35 is obtained. In fact, so substantial is the tension involved that "it would not be possible to similarly clip 'the front edge of the covering if a channel member were substituted for the bar 31. It is for this reason that the latter is made of wood to permit the front edge of the covering to be secured thereto by nails 38 driven into the wood.

At the rear "of the stand H and disposed above the same is a longitudinal pocket structure 40 which may have a series of pockets for housing miscellaneous articles used in the care of the baby. This structure 40 may be suitably secured to a heavy bracket wire 44 of inverted generally U-shaped form, and it may have a continuous pocket to removably frictionally receive the main part of the element 4!. The latter may have arms 42 which :are frontwardly ofiset at 43 and then extend downwardly at 44 with their lower ends formed with hook portions 45 adapted to freely pivotally enter holes in the rear legs 13.. Thus the device '40 is swingable upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, and downwardly to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3. A releasable .locking device may include stop pins 46 secured to the rear legs [3 or to the bracket plates 26 for engaging the portions 44 of the arms 42 to maintain the device 40 in the upright position. Since the element 40 is resilient, its arms 42 may be sprung apart to pass the stop pin 46 to permit the device 40 to beswung downwardly. If desired, these arms 42 may be sprung still further to remove the hook parts 45 from engagement with the legs 83, whereby the device 40 may be completely detached from the stand. In its upraised operative position, with the arms 42 engaged frontward of the stop pins 46, the device 40 constitutes a support to maintain the dressing table 21 in upraised rearwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 1. Accordingly, the device H) may be used anywhere without requiring that the dressing table shall lean against the wall. In this manner the'dressing table is instantly and conveniently within reach as the baby is removed from the tub, so that the dressing table can be swung downwardly and the baby placed thereon. When it is desired to collapse the device to the position of Fig. 3, the device 49 may be removed as stated, or the arms 42 may be sprung only enough to clear the stop pin 46, whereupon the device 40 of the dressing table can be swung downwardly. This operation may be facilitated by using a stop pin 46 at only one end of the stand. When the device 40 is swung downwardly it is noted that the pockets thereof would be inverted, and in order to prevent loss of articles from the pockets, the latter may be provided with flaps or with elastic hems or other suitable means well known in the art to assure retention of the articles.

The manner of using the device I0 will now be briefly described. With the device completely open as shown in Figure 1 there is complete and unobstructed access to the bathtub l6, and various articles used in the bath are available at the front pocket structure I!) and at the tray 23, and the towels are easily accessible'at the front bar 20. The dressing table 21 inclines safely rearwardly. When the bath has been completed, the baby is lifted with one arm, and with the other arm the dressing table 2'! is swung frontward to the dot-dash line position and now the baby is placed upon the dressing table, and the pocket structure 40 is now readily accessible for the application of powder and the liketo the child. The tub l6 may of course have water filled thereinto and drained therefrom in any usual manner. The device [0 may now be collapsed and put away in compact form by releasing the pocket structure 40 to permit the dressing table 2'! to swing rearwardly and downwardly. Then the tray 23 is merely tilted upward until the chains 25 stop its further movement. The stand is now collapsed and with it the tub It, thus completing the operation. It is to be noted that in the device 40 when its supporting wire bracket is completely detached from the stand it may be re-engaged therewith and then swung forwardly on a side thereof opposite to that of the depending dressing table, to thus tend to hold the stand in collapsed position.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the invention showing an improved structure for detachably mounting the tub [6 so that the latter may be replaced when its fabric deteriorates by reason of moisture or otherwise. The fastening means includes a series of fastening devices 36a disposed along the front and rear top edges of the tub, and preferably the Wooden bars 11, I 8 are replaced by horizontal channel members Ila secured to the front and rear legs respectively, of the stand. While these devices 36a are analagous to those at 36, they are different in that the dressing table cover is taut while the tub is generally slack. Accordingly each device 3611 includes a clip 48 like that at 36 but formed with an upwardly projecting prong 49 adapted to strong frictional y engetflie channel flange 50fwhen the clip 48 is applied to receive the flange. The outer leg of the clip is connected by a snap fastener 5| to a marginal portion 52 of the tub l5 extending over the channel member. The clips 48 need not be disturbed after bemg once located to suit the fasteners 5| on the tub, and only the fasteners 5| need be manipulated to replace the tub. Should the locations of the snap fasteners on the new tub vary, the clips 48 may be slid along the channel member to suit, but otherwise these clips may be regarded as permanently affixed on the chan-- nel member. These devices 38a may be regarded as embodied in Figs. 1 and 2, and they may be substituted for the devices 36 in which case the entire dressing table frame may be made of ohannel'or angle bars, and the dressing table cover may be readily snapped on taut. Figs. 8 and '9 may therefore be regarded as also illustrating a dressing table structure with the tub l6'i'ndicative'of the cover 35. The pocket member l9 may be connected to the marginal portion of the member 52in any suitable manner.

1Weclaim:

1. A device including'a cross-legged type stand. a dressing table swingably mounted on the stand to movebetween operative overlying position with respect to 'the'stand and to depending position alongside of thestand, the dressing table having a frame having three sides consisting of channel elements and a fourth side consisting of a wooden element, the dressing table having a taut canvas cover having marginal metallic clips for engaging flanges'of the channel elements, said cover being nailed-to'thewooden element.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the wooden element is at the front edge of the dressing table and has end portions engaged in the channels, with the gusset-like plates underlying adjacentparts'of the wooden element. ;i 3. A'device according to claim 1 wherein the channel elements include welded corners at the rear edge of the dressing table, and means is provided for swingably mounting the dressing table including pins secured to certain of the channel elements within the same adjacent to the welded corners.

4. A device including a collapsible cross-legged type stand, a tray pivotally mounted on the stand adjacent to the leg intersections, the pivotal axis being nearer to rear than to the front of the tray, with the tray extending longitudinally of the stand adjacent to the front thereof, and flexible supporting elements interconnecting the tray with the front legs at points in advance of the pivotal axis of the tray, said flexible elements so cooperatin with the tray and the front legs as to pass around the latter and thus to stop rearward movement of the tray when the latter is swung to an upright rearwardly inclined position in the collapsed position of the stand, and serving to horizontally support the tray when the latter is swung downwardly to operative position.

5. A device of the character described comprising a cross-legged stand having front and rear legs, said stand defining a horizontal plane in which the legs terminate at their upper ends, stationary brackets rigidly secured to the rear legs so as to project above said plane, a dressing table overlying said leg upper ends and operatively supported by the stand with the table lying in said plane, and means adjacent to the rear edge of the dressing table pivotally engaging said brackets, said means including pivot pins lying n the plane of the dressing table, the pivot pins and portions of the brackets engaged thereby lying permanently rearward of the rear legs, the dressing table bein so constructed and arranged with respect to said rear legs to be swingable from the horizontal operative position to an inoperatwo, vertical, depending position without interference by rear legs and adjacent parts of the stand.

6-. The device according toclaim in which the dressing table includesa rectangular frame having corner gusset-like plates at its front edge to provide seating engagement with the top edges of the front legs of the stand.

7. A device of the character described comprising a collapsible cross-legged type stand, a dressing table pivotally mounted at its rear edge on said stand and swingable forwardly to an operative, horizontal position overlying and resting on the stand, said dressing table being swingable rearwardly and downwardly to a depending position alongside of the stand in the collapsed position of the latter and to an upwardly extending rearwardly inclined position, a, pocket carrying member pivotally mounted on the stand for swinging movement between an operative upstanding position above the stand and a depending position at the rear of the stand, and means on the stand engaging. the pocket carryin member to support same in said upstanding position to support the dressing table in its upwardly extending rearwardlyinclined position.

8. The device according to claim 7 in which said pocket carrying member is formed with a resilient portion to be disengageable from said means to permit movement of said member and consequent movement of the dressing table to said depending position.

9. A collapsible bathtub dressing table of the character described comprising a cross-legged stand having front. and rear legs for supporting a bathtub therebetween, said stand defining a horizontal plane in which said legs terminate at their upper ends, a, dressing table pivotally mounted at its rear edge on the stand and swing able forwardly toan operative horizontal position resting on the stand and overlying the tub and swingable rearwardly and downwardly to a depending position alongside the stand in the collapsed position thereof, the dressing table being so constructed and arranged with respect to the stand to be swung to an upward extending rearwardly inclined position when the tub is in use, a pocket carrying member pivotally mounted on the stand for swinging movement between an upright operative position in which it extends above the top of the stand and a depending position from the rear of the stand, and engaging means on the stand retaining the pocket carrying member in said upright operative position for supporting the dressing table in said upward extending rearwardly inclined position, the pocket carrying member having a resilient portion disengageable from said engaging means to permit movement of said member and consequent movement of the dressing table to said depending position when the stand is collapsed.

IRVING LONSTEIN. JACK GLICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 145,966 Baker Nov. 26, 1946 600,148 Hangar Mar. 8, 1898 821,230 Fowler May 22, 1906 2,140,685 Baxter Dec. 20, 1938 2,217,658 DePuy Oct. 15, 1940 2,254,004 DePuy Aug. 26, 1941 2,281,309 Kennedy Apr. 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 551,746 France Apr. 12, 1923 

